Study: Ulcerative Colitis Patients Usually Pass on Colectomy, Despite Evidence of Improved Quality of Life

Research findings suggest ulcerative colitis patients with more social support are more likely to undergo colectomy compared to patients with less social support, according to a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

For their study, researchers studied 450 patient perceptions about colectomy from three groups: non-UC patients, UC patients without colectomy and post-colectomy UC patients. Results showed post-colectomy UC patients strongly preferred to undergo colectomy over not undergoing colectomy. Conversely, UC patients preferred to live in their current health state rather than undergo a colectomy. Social support had strong implications of whether UC patients were likely to undergo colectomy.

Researchers also concluded that opportunities to interact with UC patients who have previously undergone colectomy could help patients living with UC and their physicians to navigate such complex decisions.